An elaborate undertaking

An elaborate undertaking

Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times

Ray Baker has been an engineer at JPL since 2001. "When you work through the engineering," he says of the complicated landing sequence for the Mars rover Curiosity, "it actually makes a lot of sense. But it looks crazy."

Ray Baker has been an engineer at JPL since 2001. "When you work through the engineering," he says of the complicated landing sequence for the Mars rover Curiosity, "it actually makes a lot of sense. But it looks crazy." (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Ray Baker has been an engineer at JPL since 2001. "When you work through the engineering," he says of the complicated landing sequence for the Mars rover Curiosity, "it actually makes a lot of sense. But it looks crazy."